The Canadian press
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OTTAWA-
Unvaccinated travelers over the age of 12 will not be able to board a plane or passenger train in Canada as of today, and a negative COVID-19 test will no longer serve as a substitute for most people.
The policy went into effect October 30, but the federal government allowed unvaccinated travelers who could board a brief transition period, as long as they presented a negative COVID-19 molecular test performed within 72 hours of their trip. p>
The stringent new requirement comes into effect as Canada reacts to the emergence of the new, heavily mutated Omicron variant of COVID-19.
The discovery of the new variant has led to border closings and stricter controls in Canada and abroad, fears that it could prove transferable.
The risk associated with the Omicron variant is very high according to the World Health Organization, but there are still many public health officials out there and scientists do not know about it.
While anyone entering Canada or boarding a plane or train within the country must be vaccinated, there are currently no quarantine measures, except for those who have recently traveled through southern Africa.
While many airlines have previously conducted random checks to ensure travelers are vaccinated, Air Canada and WestJet have confirmed that starting today they will require proof of anyone boarding in Canada.
« If you tell your airline or railroad that you are eligible to board but you don’t have a vaccination certificate or a valid COVID-19 test result, you won’t be able to travel and face fines or fines, » the government website said. p>
The government has warned on social media that even Canadians and those permanently residing abroad cannot return home without a full list of approved vaccines.
There are a few exceptions, including valid medical exemptions, traveling to remote communities only accessible by air, and those traveling across Canada en route to another destination.
The vaccination mandate was positively received by the Canadian aviation industry when it was first announced in October, although some companies were concerned about making the necessary preparations in good time.
Since then, the federal government has announced standardized vaccination records that will be distributed by provinces and territories for national and international travel.
People wearing protective equipment will check in on Monday, December 14, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic Toronto international departures at Pearson International Airport. (THE CANADIAN PRESS / Nathan Denette
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